Comments on: No learning, no hugging http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/ The News Blog of Comics Culture Sun, 8 Nov 2009 13:17:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Mastrogiovann http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-3465509 Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:15:48 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-3465509 AH! This is the sort of thing I have been looking for. Great article. Doing some research for an article. You should add buttons to the bottom of your posts to social bookmarking sitest. AH! This is the sort of thing I have been looking for. Great article. Doing some research for an article. You should add buttons to the bottom of your posts to social bookmarking sitest.

]]> by: Tag http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-478890 Wed, 24 Oct 2007 20:43:35 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-478890 I've only seen the pilot of DARK PLACE and loved it. SciFi channel really dropped the ball on that one. But please, more joyless updates of FLASH GORDON, I beseech you. There are a few truly silly American sitcoms, like SCRUBS ("Dr. Acula," anyone?) and the sadly neglected ANDY RICHTER CONTROLS THE UNIVERSE. But it's harder for any sitcom, good or crap, to get a foothold nowadays, when cheap reality shows and primetime game shows are queued up four-deep to take their places should they at all stumble out the gate. I’ve only seen the pilot of DARK PLACE and loved it. SciFi channel really dropped the ball on that one. But please, more joyless updates of FLASH GORDON, I beseech you.

There are a few truly silly American sitcoms, like SCRUBS (”Dr. Acula,” anyone?) and the sadly neglected ANDY RICHTER CONTROLS THE UNIVERSE. But it’s harder for any sitcom, good or crap, to get a foothold nowadays, when cheap reality shows and primetime game shows are queued up four-deep to take their places should they at all stumble out the gate.

]]> by: kevin http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-478328 Wed, 24 Oct 2007 14:18:45 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-478328 Darkplace Quotes: Garth Marenghi: I have never exploded. But, I know what it would be like. Don't ask me how, I just know. I've always, just known. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dr. Lucien Sanchez: Have you ever been to Scotland Dag? Dr. Rick Dagless: Once. Dr. Lucien Sanchez: What was it like? Dr. Rick Dagless: I remember it much as one recalls a dream... or a nightmare. I was on a budget flight to Norway, when a storm hit and forced us to ditch in Glasgow Prestwick. I was stranded, and it's so hilly up there you can't get any signal on your car phone. It looked bad...it looked like I was going to have to spend the night in Glasgow. Dr. Lucien Sanchez: Jesus Christ. Dr. Rick Dagless: The cabin crew suggested we all go out and club it. I had no option, it was that or one of their B&Bs. I figured it'd be safer on the streets. For the first time ever I saw the Scotch in their natural habitat...and it weren't pretty. I had seen them huddling in stations before being loud, but this time, I was surrounded. Everywhere I went it felt like they were watching me...fish-white flesh puckered by the highland breeze, tight eyes peering out for fresh meat. Screechy, booze-soaked voices hollering out for a taxi to take them halfway up the road to the next all-night watering hole. A shatter of glass. A round of applause. A sixteen year old mother of three vomiting in an open sewer; bairns looking on, chewing on potato cakes. I ain't never going back. Not never. [pause] Dr. Lucien Sanchez: My aunt lives in Scotland, she says it's quite nice. Dr. Rick Dagless: Well she's wrong. Darkplace Quotes:

Garth Marenghi: I have never exploded. But, I know what it would be like. Don’t ask me how, I just know. I’ve always, just known.
————————————————————————————
Dr. Lucien Sanchez: Have you ever been to Scotland Dag?
Dr. Rick Dagless: Once.
Dr. Lucien Sanchez: What was it like?
Dr. Rick Dagless: I remember it much as one recalls a dream… or a nightmare. I was on a budget flight to Norway, when a storm hit and forced us to ditch in Glasgow Prestwick. I was stranded, and it’s so hilly up there you can’t get any signal on your car phone. It looked bad…it looked like I was going to have to spend the night in Glasgow.
Dr. Lucien Sanchez: Jesus Christ.
Dr. Rick Dagless: The cabin crew suggested we all go out and club it. I had no option, it was that or one of their B&Bs. I figured it’d be safer on the streets. For the first time ever I saw the Scotch in their natural habitat…and it weren’t pretty. I had seen them huddling in stations before being loud, but this time, I was surrounded. Everywhere I went it felt like they were watching me…fish-white flesh puckered by the highland breeze, tight eyes peering out for fresh meat. Screechy, booze-soaked voices hollering out for a taxi to take them halfway up the road to the next all-night watering hole. A shatter of glass. A round of applause. A sixteen year old mother of three vomiting in an open sewer; bairns looking on, chewing on potato cakes. I ain’t never going back. Not never.
[pause]
Dr. Lucien Sanchez: My aunt lives in Scotland, she says it’s quite nice.
Dr. Rick Dagless: Well she’s wrong.

]]> by: Rich Johnston http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-477961 Wed, 24 Oct 2007 09:23:17 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-477961 Oh and while I enjoy GMDP as much as the next man, THE THICK OF IT and SCREENWIPE are the TV shows of the century. So far, anyway. Oh and while I enjoy GMDP as much as the next man, THE THICK OF IT and SCREENWIPE are the TV shows of the century. So far, anyway.

]]> by: Rich Johnston http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-477960 Wed, 24 Oct 2007 09:22:10 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-477960 Heidi, I hope you'll be following it up with DEAN LERNER'S MAN TO MAN as well as pieces on GMDP alumni projects such as SNUFF BOX, THE MIGHTY BOOSH, NOBLE AND SILVER:GET OFF ME, NATHAN BARLEY and the like... 8-) Heidi, I hope you’ll be following it up with DEAN LERNER’S MAN TO MAN as well as pieces on GMDP alumni projects such as SNUFF BOX, THE MIGHTY BOOSH, NOBLE AND SILVER:GET OFF ME, NATHAN BARLEY and the like… 8-)

]]> by: Christopher Moonlight http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-477017 Tue, 23 Oct 2007 19:31:48 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-477017 I've never heard of Dark Place. Is it British? I’ve never heard of Dark Place. Is it British?

]]> by: The Beat http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-476916 Tue, 23 Oct 2007 18:17:49 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-476916 The Beat is planning a special Focus On GARTH MARENGHI'S DARK PLACE, the greatest TV show of this century, in the very near future. The Beat is planning a special Focus On GARTH MARENGHI’S DARK PLACE, the greatest TV show of this century, in the very near future.

]]> by: kevin http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-476812 Tue, 23 Oct 2007 17:36:01 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-476812 Understood Rich! :) Understood Rich! :)

]]> by: Ade Brown http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-476747 Tue, 23 Oct 2007 16:33:54 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-476747 You spelled "Marenghi" wrong, Rich ! And forgot to say that "Russell T Davies' Darkplace" is the correct name of "Torchwood". But yeah, no loss at all re US/IT Crowd. Watch the original. You spelled “Marenghi” wrong, Rich !

And forgot to say that “Russell T Davies’ Darkplace” is the correct name of “Torchwood”.

But yeah, no loss at all re US/IT Crowd.
Watch the original.

]]> by: Rich Johnston http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-476697 Tue, 23 Oct 2007 15:47:49 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-476697 Can I just come in here and say: GREEN WING THE MIGHTY BOOSH GARTH MERENGHI'S DARKPLACE THE THICK OF IT OUTNUMBERED NATHAN BARLEY IDEAL CHARLIE BROOKER'S SCREENWIPE And then just disappear as if I was never here? And Kevin? Buty a multiregion DVD, find the non-region code for your existing DVD or get it chipped. No excuses. Can I just come in here and say:

GREEN WING
THE MIGHTY BOOSH
GARTH MERENGHI’S DARKPLACE
THE THICK OF IT
OUTNUMBERED
NATHAN BARLEY
IDEAL
CHARLIE BROOKER’S SCREENWIPE

And then just disappear as if I was never here?

And Kevin? Buty a multiregion DVD, find the non-region code for your existing DVD or get it chipped. No excuses.

]]> by: Christopher Moonlight http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-476569 Tue, 23 Oct 2007 14:51:59 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-476569 That 70's Show is kind of like an all American, British comedy. That 70’s Show is kind of like an all American, British comedy.

]]> by: Torsten Adair http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-476564 Tue, 23 Oct 2007 14:46:17 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-476564 The US tradition of surreal comedy is spotty. Sid Caesar, LaughIn, Saturday Night Live, Soap... The closest example of the British model is Arrested Development, which used all of the techniques from Britain, and gained a cult following. Unfortunately, it relied on continuing storylines, and people today don't invest that much effort on a series. All situational comedy is surreal, as you take a normal situation and add an incident that starts the comedy. It can be a Broadway producer visiting a deserted island, or a children's television host being killed by a rogue elephant, or a former President moving in across the street. HOW surreal depends on the writers and the viewers. The US tradition of surreal comedy is spotty. Sid Caesar, LaughIn, Saturday Night Live, Soap… The closest example of the British model is Arrested Development, which used all of the techniques from Britain, and gained a cult following. Unfortunately, it relied on continuing storylines, and people today don’t invest that much effort on a series.

All situational comedy is surreal, as you take a normal situation and add an incident that starts the comedy. It can be a Broadway producer visiting a deserted island, or a children’s television host being killed by a rogue elephant, or a former President moving in across the street. HOW surreal depends on the writers and the viewers.

]]> by: Christopher Moonlight http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-476502 Tue, 23 Oct 2007 14:17:52 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-476502 I was born in England and spent my entire 6th year watching The Young Ones http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgbOS2Ny2_Q as much as I could. What a childhood. I was born in England and spent my entire 6th year watching The Young Ones http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgbOS2Ny2_Q as much as I could. What a childhood.

]]> by: Augie De Blieck Jr. http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-476416 Tue, 23 Oct 2007 13:13:06 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-476416 I'm sure this will be considered a "mercy killing." But he's right -- every American should watch the last couple seasons of BLACKADDER to enjoy the mirth and the mayhem. Jonathan - Agreed on COUPLING. While the last season wasn't as strong as the first three, it's still one of the most creative and hilarious sit-coms of all time. I still reference the Giggle Loop on occasion. I’m sure this will be considered a “mercy killing.” But he’s right — every American should watch the last couple seasons of BLACKADDER to enjoy the mirth and the mayhem.

Jonathan - Agreed on COUPLING. While the last season wasn’t as strong as the first three, it’s still one of the most creative and hilarious sit-coms of all time. I still reference the Giggle Loop on occasion.

]]> by: Jonathan http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-476387 Tue, 23 Oct 2007 13:04:57 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-476387 I'm not surprised at all really (though I never knew this was on at all in the US). Coupling failed miserably in the States and the original series (to me) is the funniest sitcom that's not The Simpsons of all time. I’m not surprised at all really (though I never knew this was on at all in the US). Coupling failed miserably in the States and the original series (to me) is the funniest sitcom that’s not The Simpsons of all time.

]]> by: Tinpan http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-476348 Tue, 23 Oct 2007 12:34:55 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-476348 Whoa! Father Ted is one of the best comedies out there and it's so awesome to hear about The It Crowd. Gotta hunt this down! British comedy revels in the absurd and it's generally more chaotic and dark than American shows. It's like the takee absurdity as the norm, and put totally normal characters in an absurd universe, whereas I find the opposite tends to happen across the pond. Whoa! Father Ted is one of the best comedies out there and it’s so awesome to hear about The It Crowd. Gotta hunt this down! British comedy revels in the absurd and it’s generally more chaotic and dark than American shows. It’s like the takee absurdity as the norm, and put totally normal characters in an absurd universe, whereas I find the opposite tends to happen across the pond.

]]> by: kevin http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-476343 Tue, 23 Oct 2007 12:31:46 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/10/23/no-learning-no-hugging/#comment-476343 Well that sucks--kinda. I looooove "The IT Crowd",and ive been waiting desperately for the region1 disc of series 1,this show is so funny. So when I heard they were going to remake the original I was nervous but then I heard they had hired Richard Ayoade,so my fears subsided.This show would have been a perfect companion to 30 Rock and The Office. p.s.:Does anyone know if any studio will be releasing a region 1 dvd of "Garth Merenghi's Darkplace"? :) Well that sucks–kinda. I looooove “The IT Crowd”,and ive been waiting desperately for the region1 disc of series 1,this show is so funny. So when I heard they were going to remake the original I was nervous but then I heard they had hired Richard Ayoade,so my fears subsided.This show would have been a perfect companion to 30 Rock and The Office.

p.s.:Does anyone know if any studio will be releasing a region 1 dvd of “Garth Merenghi’s Darkplace”? :)

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